Philoxenia; A radical approach to friendship is a discourse of friendship that, according to Gandhi, finds its existence through philoxenia, “a love for guests, strangers, and foreigners.” Ghandi continues that “philoxenic solidarities are .. emotionally risky.

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Monday, November 22, 2010

Listen 2.2. ANNEX _ Jade (China)

Chapter ONE. A long time ago, there was a man Bian Heh who lived in Central China. One day he became very excited because he dug a tough and cut stone containing jade in the place called Hushan.

The surface of tis jade was coarse and looked like any ordinary stone. Without cutting the rock or however he knew in his heart that there was jade inside, because he learnt from his family the skill of finding jade which often hides in ordinary rocks.

Bian Heh was not self-centered. He would have given the rock to his parents but they were both dead. Instead of keeping the rock for himself the first thing that came to his mind, as he was a loyal citizen, was to present the jade to his king.

So he walked, walked and walked finally reaching the king’s palace so he could give his jade to the king. the king send for the jade craftmen to look at the stone. Unfortunately the jade craftmen looked at it and they thought that it was not more than a piece of rock.

The king was very angry because the king thought that Bian Heh purposely tried to fool him. The king didn’t kill Bian Heh though. Instead he had his left foot cut off. Ouch!

Chapter TWO. When the next king succeeded to the throne Bian Heh this time was in a doubt. As a loyal citizen he once again walked a long way and offered the jade to his new king. He did this because he still believed that there was jade inside the rock. Guess what? Another jade craftmen took it but he thought that it was not more than a piece of rock. Poor Bian Heh! This time he suffered the loss of his right foot. Ouch!, ouch!

Chapter THREE. Years later yet another ruler took power. At this time Bian Heh was in odds full of dismay. He douldn’t walk but still believed that there was jade inside the rock. For three days he hold the jade and wept and wept until his eyes steamed with blodd.

The new ruler heard the news and had Bian Heh brought to him. The king asked him:

- “What make you cry so sadly?”

Bian Heh said:

- “I didn’t cry because my feet wre cut off but because my jade had been considered a mere rock and my loyalty has been viewed as deception. This has hurt me deeply!”

The new ruler took a look at Bian Heh and shifted between believe him or being suspicious of him. He ordered his craftmen [jadders] to chisel his rock open.

Beyond anybody’s imagination a bright rare beautiful piece of jade was found inside. The king was so joyful that he not only named the jade Bian Heh jade in his honour that he also gave Bian Heh a great deal of gold and silver.

The jade was so special that one can see his own reflection. During the daytime it acts just like a mirror and it shines at night. Anyone who carries it feels cool in summer and warm in winter. Besides it is also believed to have the power of getting rid of evil spirits.

News about the magic of the jade spread rapidly to every state. All the kings wanted to own this piece of jade. Believe it or not one king offered not one, not two, not three but 15 cities to trade for this piece of jade.

Because of that many touching stories related to it grew throughout Chinese history.

Literature. The wisdom ofChina

http://www.cdot.org/history/chinese_myths.htm

The Chu state got a rough jade on Mount Chu. He decided to present the valuable jade to the emperor to show his official loyalty to his sovereign, Chuli. Unluckily, the jade was judged as a common stone by the court jadders, which made Emperor Chuli very angry, and had Bian Heh's left foot cut down cruelly.

After the enthronement of the new emperor Chuwu, Bian Heh decided to submit the jade to Chuwu to clarify matters. Emperor Chuwu also had it checked by the jadders in the court. And the conclusion resulted in the same fact that Bian Heh lost the other foot.

After the death of Emperor Chuwu, the prince Chuwen was enthroned, that gave the poor Bian Heh a gleam of light of proving his clear conscience. However, the moment he thought of what he had incurred, he couldn't help crying beside a hill. He could not stop crying for several days and nights; he almost wept his heart out and even blood was dropping from his eyes. And it happened to be heard by the emperor in the court. He ordered his men to find out why he was so sad. Bian Heh sobbed out "Call a spade a spade. Why was a real jade mistaken as a plain stone again and again? Why was a loyal man thought faithless time and time?" Emperor Chuwen was touched by Bian Heh's deep grief and ordered the jadders to open the jade to have a close look. To their astonishment, in the rough coat, the pure content was sparkling and translucent. Then it was carefully cut and polished fine and at last the jade became a rare treasure of the state of Chu. In memory of the faithful man Bian Heh, the emperor named the jade by Bian Heh. And so the term "Bian's Jade" came into being.

People usually describe something extremely precious in its value with Bian's Jade.

the Chu state got a rough jade on Mount Chu. He decided to present the valuable jade to the emperor to show his official loyalty to his sovereign, Chuli. Unluckily, the jade was judged as a common stone by the court jadders, which made Emperor Chuli very angry, and had Bian Heh's left foot cut down cruelly.

After the enthronement of the new emperor Chuwu, Bian Heh decided to submit the jade to Chuwu to clarify matters. Emperor Chuwu also had it checked by the jadders in the court. And the conclusion resulted in the same fact that Bian Heh lost the other foot.

After the death of Emperor Chuwu, the prince Chuwen was enthroned, that gave the poor Bian Heh a gleam of light of proving his clear conscience. However, the moment he thought of what he had incurred, he couldn't help crying beside a hill. He could not stop crying for several days and nights; he almost wept his heart out and even blood was dropping from his eyes. And it happened to be heard by the emperor in the court. He ordered his men to find out why he was so sad. Bian Heh sobbed out "Call a spade a spade. Why was a real jade mistaken as a plain stone again and again? Why was a loyal man thought faithless time and time?" Emperor Chuwen was touched by Bian Heh's deep grief and ordered the jadders to open the jade to have a close look. To their astonishment, in the rough coat, the pure content was sparkling and translucent. Then it was carefully cut and polished fine and at last the jade became a rare treasure of the state of Chu. In memory of the faithful man Bian Heh, the emperor named the jade by Bian Heh. And so the term "Bian's Jade" came into being.

People usually describe something extremely precious in its value with Bian's Jade.